Cook is finally able to present the somewhat revolutionary idea that being gay is not just the same as being straight — that it is not a simple aspect of one’s makeup. It changes the way one views the world, as Cook writes. It also compels one forward to take part in a cause larger than oneself.”

I'm conflicted.
Yeah its always a good thing to have powerful people on your side, and to relate to. But at the same time, it is undeniable what this position of power affords him regarding a sort of diplomatic immunity. What exactly is going to happen to Tim Cook, CEO of arguably the most popular manufacturer of consumer electronics in the world, for coming out as gay? Compared with the meek twenty-something kid working as an intern/junior for a startup in their local hub, you can hardly call the situation the same or even similar. Like, of god-damn course the celebrities and rich-personalities of the world are able to come out safely. They have safety nets so huge they might as well not even bother with the tightrope act. How are the downtrodden queer folx aka the real people of the world supposed to relate to some rich guy who could probably buy his way out of any scrutiny anyway? It certainly doesn't make me any more relieved or willing to be open about myself. I can't afford to take that risk.

I'm sorry, but this is just ridiculous. Because he's a CEO he's not a human being, with human emotions and relationships to people on an interpersonal level beyond Apple? I'm sorry to tell you this, but pain is pain, bigotry is bigotry, and it may actually take more courage to come out as the CEO of Apple than it does for a 22-year-old on a liberal college campus. That said, this is widely speculative as each individual case would be unique unto itself. You can't pretend you know any more about his interpersonal life than he could about yours.

How are the downtrodden queer folx aka the real people

-the "real people?" Oh gawd.

Tell me this, what happens when you reveal yourself to be gay? I'm guessing it would be really rough probably because of family, friends and coworkers that thought otherwise. How is that any different for Tim Cook? Add to this, he has endorsement deals with his company. He has shareholders etc. No offense, but outside of your friends and family nobody gives a shit whether or not you're gay. Not to be insensitive, but he may have more at stake because of his notoriety.

Honestly, I really don't care whether or not he is gay, I suspect that the majority of the populace could care less too. His friends and family may have a hard time with it, for whatever reason. How is this different from you?

This whole point is ludicrous. He is not "the common man" whatsoever and never will be, yeah he's a human being but he's a rich and powerful human being and that's a lot different than some kid who's homeless because he came out to his parents, sorry. That kid will never be Tim Cook, and Tim Cook will never be that kid.

edit: Man the more I think about it the amount of apologia for who is essentially the do-no-wrong idol of every tech person on the planet over like, actual struggling queer youth is really concerning to me. I'm just getting far too angry so I'm going to step away for a while.

Don't make any assumptions, I don't know anything about Tim Cook, I'm not an Apple fanboy and honestly, I couldn't care much less about the guy. However, I know CEOs of companies and they're just people. I know that's hard to believe, but really, they are flesh and blood. They care about many of the same things we do, and have insecurities, just like we do. Diminishing someone because of the job they have as less than human, which is WHAT YOU DID, is stupid.

What is "the common man?" Is a poor college kid? Is an assembly plant worker, is a door to door salesman? Is a well paid business man? Which one is allowed to be the "real people of the world," in your estimation?

There's no apologia from me, but no condemnation either. I don't know the guy, neither do you.

In 2014, it maybe sucks for Tim Cook to have to come out as gay, for all the reasons thenewgreen mentions. He has shareholders, he has huge responsibilities, he has public scrutiny.

It also sucks for some kid to come out as gay, for the reasons longstocking mentions. That kid has no money, maybe no home -- I've known a few -- and potentially no other support system.

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Stop arguing, if you even are arguing, I can't really tell. Life is too short to argue. Or whatever. I'm about to go make another white russian with added pumpkin spice liqueur. I'll make time for that shit, but not arguing.

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Uh, by the math I guess, odds are something like 40-50 of the Fortune CEOs (maybe less due to societal selection) are gay, but the only one who has come out, ever, seems to be Tim Cook (I didn't actually read the article because I don't read articles if I have a 75% change of guessing what they say beforehand^). Tim Cook's at the top of the "Fortune CEO" world. So there is something in that. If it was an easy thing to do, the CEO of rich company number 432 would be out. You could also argue that maybe it's only news if Apple CEO does it, so CEO 432 just hasn't bothered. I don't know.

I'm definitely not trying to argue, I did however take exception to this phrase:

How are the downtrodden queer folx aka the real people of the world

.

Only Tim Cook and that homeless kid will know how difficult it was for one another to come out. longstocking, I apologize if my comments upset you. I used some inflammatory words "stupid" etc. That wasn't cool. My sincere apologies. Somewhere in here is a discussion worth having though.

The tag has changed several times. The tag I started with was something else. I forget what, then someone changed it to #sexuality - now this one. Please change it again. People can care or not care. If they don't care, say why and put it in a comment.

I care because gay people are still beaten up here, jailed in Russia, legally put to death in many other places.

Personally any thing that helps some game-playing kid in a repressive situation feel okay about him or herself is worth caring about.

I'm in my middle-age, and I can't believe this is true. Although I do believe it.

It is just that there have been out gay kids in my life since I was a teenager. They were persecuted, harassed and bullied. But they were out in the South in the 1980s. I suppose going clubbing really exposed me to more than I thought it did.

I heard this announcement and thought, "So?"

But it is a big deal. It is a watershed moment for gay men.

But I kinda that think it sucks that it required a rich, white, closer-to-retirement-aged CEO to be gay to legitimize the gay community.